Railway car underframe and method of manufacture



5 SheetS-Sheet l ATTORNEY Aug. 16, 1966 F. c. PULcRANo RAILWAY CAR UNDERFRAME AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Filed Sept. 21, 1964 m mA mm m www ma. C. w. TNV A wub., R .wn F Y B wm, NW vm Allg 16, 1966 F. c. PULcRANo 3,266,441

RAILWAY CAR UNDERFRAME AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Filed Sept. 21. 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 www...

INVENTOR.

FRNK C. FULCFUNQy BYM.

ATTORNEY Aug- 16, 1966 F. c. PuLcRANo 3,266,441

RAILWAY CAR UNDERFRAME AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Filed Sept. 21 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIQ/NK C. PULcRrANc) BYCj@ ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,266,441 RAILWAY CAR UNDERFRAME AND METHOD F MANUFACTURE Frank C. Pulcrano, Bridgeton, Mo., assignor to ACF Industries, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 397,730

1 Claim. (Cl. 10S-416) This invention relates to a railway car underframe and its method of manufacture. More particularly, this invention relates to a cushioned underframe of the type in which a rigid draft and buff column extends generally the length of the car and is movable relative to the car body and bolster assemblies.

Underframes of the general type characterized above are well known and comprise a fixed center sill structure in which a movable center sill structure is mounted for sliding movement relative to the xed center sill structure `and the remainder of the underframe. As the sliding center sill structure receives and dissipates a substantial portion of the draft and buff forces, the fixed center sill structure m-ay be of relatively small dimensions, such as, for example, of a thickness of around e inch.

Heretofore, in cushioned underframe railway cars, the top cover plate of each bolster structure has extended over the upper surface of the fixed sill structure. When the floor is positioned on the underframe over the top cover plates of the bolster structures, the upper surface of the fixed sill structure is spaced from the lower surface of the floor an amount equal to the thickness of the bolster top cover plate. Thus, filler bars or plates between the floor and the fixed sill structure have been required to be placed at intervals along the length of the fixed sill structure. The mounting of such filler bars is time consuming as Well as costly.

The present invention provides an underframe and method of manufacture in which the upper surfaces of the cross bearer members, the upper surface of the fixed sill structure, and the upper surfaces of the top cover plates of the bolster structures are substantially flush so that a Hoor or the like may lbe positioned in Contact with these surfaces without the use of any filler bars or plates between the floor and the fixed center sill structure.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cushioned underframe having a fixed center sill structure in which filler bars or plates are eliminated between the fixed center sill structure and a floor structure positioned over the center sill structure.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a method of manufacture for a cushioned railway car underframe to form the underframe in a minimum of time with the upper surfaces of the bolster cover plates and the upper surfaces of the fixed sill structure being substantially Hush for supporting a floor or the like thereon.

Briefly, my improved underframe structure and method of manufacture comprises the forming of depressions in the upper flanges of a pair of Z-shaped fixed sill members when the Z-shaped members are being formed from flat steel plates. The depressions which are formed to receive the-bolster cover plates and the cross bearer cover plates are easily cold pressed simultaneously with the pressing of the Z-shaped members from flat metal plates. As the Z-shaped members are only around /16 inch in thickness, the cold .pressing operation is easily accomplished with the depressions being of a depth generally corresponding to the thickness of the bolster top cover plates and the cross bearer cover plates which are subsequently received Within the depressions. Slots are formed in the upper flange of the Z-shaped members at the depressions so that the cover plates may be easily welded thereto with the upper surfaces of the Z-shaped members adjacent the depressions being substantially flush with the cover plates. Other objects of this invention may be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of several possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan of a railway car underframe construction in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a section taken generally along line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken generally along line 3--3 of FIGURE 1 and showing the arrangement of the fixed sill structure adjacent the bolster structure;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken generally along line 4-4 of FIGURE l and showing the arrangement of the fixed sill structure adjacent the cross bearer members;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a v Z-shaped sill member which forms a portion of the center sill structure adjacent the bolster structure;

FIGURE 6 is a section taken generally along line 6 6 of FIGURE 5 and showing the Z-shaped member of the center sill structure adjacent the Ibolster structure;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the Z-shaped member of FIGURE 5 showing the portion thereof adjacent a cross bearer member; and

FIGURE 8 is a section taken generally along line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

`Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings for ya better understanding of my invention, a railway car underframe generally designated 10 is illustrated such as is commonly employed on box cars and flat cars. Underframe 10 includes bolster structures generally designated 11, cross bearer structures generally designated 12, end sills 14, and side sills 16. Underframe 10 is a cushioned underframe of the type in which a rigid draft and buff column forming a sliding sill generally designated 18 is provided. Sliding sill 18 is generally hat-shaped and has a suitable cushioning unit to absorb impact 'and draft force exerted through a coupler structure 21 carried at each end of sliding sill 18. An example of such a cushioned underframe is exemplified in various patents such as U.S. Patent No. 1,693,194 issued Nov. 27, 1928-to Otho C. Duryea.

Forming a rigid part of underframe 10 is a xed center sill structure comprising a pair of Z-shaped sill members 22 in which sliding sill `18 is mounted for relative sliding movement. Cross bearer structures 12 are spaced at intervals along the length of sill members 22. Extending from sill members 212. are crossties 26. Stringers 28 extend longitudinally the length of the car supported on cross bearer members 12, end sills 14, crossties 26, and bolster assemblies 1'1.

Referring to FIGURE 3, bolster structure 1'1 comprises Aa bolster upper cover plate 25, a bolster lower cover plate 27, and vertical webs 29 secured between cover plates 2S and 27. A connecting cover plate 30 of cover plate 25 extends between and connects Z-shaped sill members 22. A center plate structure is indicated at 31.

Stringers 28 are formedwith depressed upper surfaces Vadjacent webs 29 to extend beneath bolster cover plates 25 and to be welded to adjacent Webs 29.

Referring to FIGURE 4, each cross bearer structure or member 12 has an upper plate 32, a lower plate 34, with a vertical web 36 therebetween. Upper plate 32 and web 36 are formed to receive stringers 28 thereon so that the upper surfaces of the stringers are positioned at the same level as the upper surfaces of Z members 22. A

connecting cross bearer plate 38 is secured, such as by welding, -across Z-shaped members 22 at the cross bearer structure 12. Secured between lower cross bearer plates 34 beneath Z-shaped sill members 22 is a suitable I beam 40.

My invention consists in forming the fixed sill struc- Iture ywith depressions in order to receive connecting cover plates 38 of cross bearer structures 12 and bolster connecting cover plates 3.8. By forming depressions in Z- shaped sill members 22, the upper surfaces `of Z-shaped member 22, stringers 28, and plates 25, 38 are arranged at substantially the same horizontal level so that a oor 42 may be supported by Z-shaped members 22 for the length of the car without the necessity of any spacer or filler bars between the Z-shaped center sill members 2-2 and the lower surface of floor 42. Since a portion of the load is carried by sliding sill 18 the fixed sill structure comprising Z-shaped members 22 may be of a relatively small thickness, such as /16 inch. With a thickness of around 5A, inch Z-shaped members 22 may be easily pressed in a cold forming operation simultaneously with the forming of the Z-shaped member from a flat metal sheet or plate.

Referring to FIGURES 5 and 6 in which a depressed area in Z-shaped member 22 adjacent a bolster structure |1'1 is illustrated, Z-shaped member 22 includes a lower flange 46, an upper flange 48 and a vertical web 50 integral with flanges 46 and 48. Lower flange 46 is bent upwardly at 46A at an angle of around :fifteen (15) degrees wit-h respect to the horizontal and is formed with a pair of slots 52 to permit weld-ing. Lower bolster cover plate 27 is welded to bent flange 46A through slots 52. Upper flange 48 is pressed downwardly at 48A and formed with welding slots 54. Bolster connecting cover plate 30 (see FIGURE 3) is welded across depressed flanges `48A on sill members 22 through slots 54.

The fixed center sill structure is of a uniform crosssectional thickness and would probably be of a maximum not over around 3A; of an inch in thickness as larger thicknesses are difficult to press. The minimum thickness would probably be around 1A inch as buckling occurs if thicknesses below 1A inch are employed.

Referring to FIGURES 7 and 8 a portion of a Z-shaped member 22 adjacent each cross bearer structure 12 is illustrated. The lower flange of Z-shaped member 22 is not bent as at bolster structure 11. Upper flange 48 is pressed downwardly at 48B to a depth substantially the same as the thickness of the connecting cross bearer cover plate 38. No slots are provided in flange 48B for welding purposes as connecting plate 38 is welded along its outer edges to adjacent flanges 48B. However, slots 56 are provided in lower flange 46 for welding I beam 40 between adjacent lower flanges 46.

In the assembly of underframe 10, Z-shaped members 22 are first cold pressed from fiat metal sheets to form 'fianges 416, 48, and depressed portions 48A, 48B of liange 48. The bolster connecting cover plates 30 are then welded to flanges 48A through holes 54 which have been cut in flanges 48A. The draft and buff column 18 is 4then positioned wit-hin or between the Z-shaped members 22 forming the fixed sill structure. Next, crossties 26 and cross bearer structures 12, except for connecting plates 30, are secured to the vertical webs 50 of Z- shaped members 22.

The remainder of bolster structures 1-1 are then secured along with end sills 14 and side sills 116 to underframe 110. Next, connecting plates 38 of cross bearer structures 12 are welded along their outer edges to flanges 48B t-o connect Z-shaped members 22 together. Stringers 28 are then welded to the crossties, cross bearer structures `12, and bolster structures 11. The floor 42 may then be secured to the upper surfaces of Z-shaped sill members 22 and be supported along the entire length of sill members 22 as well as the upper surfaces of stringers 28 and bolster top cover plates 25.

As t-he depressions in fianges 48 are formed simultaneously with -the forming of Z-shaped members 122, no additional handling of the fixed sill members 22 is required which eliminates any costly procedure for forming the depressions. Additional contact area for the undersurface of floor 42 is provided when the oor rests against the upper surfaces of Z-shaped sill members 22 for the entire length of underframe `1t).

While sill members 2-2 yhave been illustrated as Z-shaped, it is to lbe understood the sill members may be formed of -a channel shape if desired.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results obtained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without .departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be `interpreted as illustra-tive and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

A method of making a railway car structure comprising cold pressing a pair of Z-shaped sill members from a pair of fiat metal plates having a thickness between 1A inch and 1%; inch, simultaneously cold pressing a plurality of depressions in one of the flanges of each sill member, the depressions being spaced along the length of the Z-shaped sill members and being transversely aligned, securing a bolster structure to the sill members adjacent each end of the sill members in alignment with a pair of adjacent transversely aligned depressions, welding a top cover plate to each bolster structure and to the adjacent sill members in the transversely aligned depressions the-reof with the exposed upper surfaces of the sill members and the cover plates being substantially flush, securing a plurality of transverse members to the sill members, securing a plurality of Stringer members to the transverse members and the bolster structures in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sill members with the upper surfaces of the stringers being substantially ush with the adjacent surfaces of the Z-shaped sill members to form an underframe in which the upper exposed surfaces of the sill members and the upper surfaces of both the bolster top cover plates and the stringers are in generally the same plane, and securing a floor to the upper surfaces of the sill members and the bolster top cover plates.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,771,090 7/1930 ALadas 10S-416 1,821,151 9/1931 Gilpin 105-418 2,624,430 1/ 1953 Macomber 189-37 2,646,011() 7/195'3 Nystrom 105-420 2,764,299 9/ 1956 Meyer 10S-416 2,783,718 3/1957 Cheshire 105-419 2,788,750 4/1957 Pries-t 10S-369 2,987,014 6/ 19611 Sleeman 10S-369 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

DRAYTON E. HOFFMAN, Examiner. 

